New Hampshire HB 1421: modifying title exemptions for motor vehicles manufactured before the year 2000.

Bill Text

HB 1421-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

12Feb2026... 0445h

2026 SESSION

 26-2339

 06/08

HOUSE BILL 1421-FN

AN ACT modifying title exemptions for motor vehicles manufactured before the year 2000.

SPONSORS: Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Giasson, Hills. 29

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill exempts any motor vehicle that is at least 20 years old from the requirement to obtain a certificate of title, except for heavy trucks and truck-tractors with a gross vehicle weight over 18,000 pounds. This exemption applies on a rolling basis as vehicles reach 20 years of age. This bill also allows a person who owns a title-exempt vehicle the ability to voluntarily request a title.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12Feb2026... 0445h 26-2339

 06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT modifying title exemptions for motor vehicles manufactured before the year 2000.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; Exempted Vehicles. Amend RSA 261:3, I(k) to read as follows: 

 (k) Any motor vehicle whose manufacturer's model year is older than 20 years [before the year 2000], except heavy trucks and truck-tractors whose gross vehicle weight exceeds 18,000 pounds. 

 2 New Paragraph; Certificate of Title; Exempted Vehicle; Voluntary Certificate of Title. Amend RSA 261:3 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph: 

 III. For any vehicle where a certificate of title need not be obtained pursuant to this section, a person may obtain a voluntary title for such vehicle by submitting to the department a previously issued, current or expired New Hampshire certificate of registration, a valid out-of-state certificate of title, an application for a certificate of title, or a current New Hampshire vehicle identification number verification form as prescribed by the director. For the purposes of this section, a temporary registration issued pursuant to RSA 261:57 shall not meet the requirement of a previously issued New Hampshire certificate of registration. 

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 LBA

 26-2339

 02/18/2026

HB 1421-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0445h)

AN ACT modifying title exemptions for motor vehicles manufactured before the year 2000.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

Up to $525,000 Decrease

$525,000 Per Year Decrease

 Revenue Fund(s)

Highway Fund

 Expenditures*

$0

Up to $11,550 Decrease

Up to $74,550 Decrease

$74,550 Decrease

 Funding Source(s)

Restricted - Highway Fund Cost of Collections - Per the state constitution, costs associated with the collection/administration of highway fund revenue by the Department of Safety is deducted prior to funds being credited as unrestricted highway fund revenue

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

$0

Up to $63,000 Decrease

$63,000 Decrease

METHODOLOGY:

This bill makes the following changes relative to motor vehicle titles:

• Changes the certificate of title exemption threshold from vehicles with a manufacturer’s model year prior to 2000 to vehicles that are more than 20 years old, thereby establishing a rolling exemption period. 
• Clarifies that heavy trucks and truck-tractors with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 18,000 pounds remain subject to title requirements regardless of age.
• Authorizes the issuance of voluntary certificates of title for vehicles otherwise exempt from mandatory titling and specifies acceptable documentation to obtain such title. 
• Clarifies that a temporary registration issued pursuant to RSA 261:57 does not qualify as a previously issued New Hampshire registration for purposes of obtaining a voluntary title. 

The Department of Safety has identified 15,212 titles issued for vehicles (excluding heavy trucks and trick tractors over 18,000 pounds) that reached the 20-year threshold in 2025. Therefore, this bill will reduce state title fee revenue by approximately $525,000 per year ($35 x 15,000 titles issued). Also, pursuant to RSA 235:23 (“Apportionment A”), 12 percent of highway fund road toll and motor vehicle fee revenue collected is distributed to municipa